Long Strange Trip
2017

For 30 years, the Grateful Dead were the most unlikely success story in rock and roll. At the peak of their popularity, they were the highest-grossing concert act in America, but they did it by breaking all the rules.

The inspiring, complicated, unlikely tale of the Grateful Dead, a tribe of contrarians who made art out of open-ended chaos, and inadvertently achieved success on their own terms. Formally inventive with never before seen footage and interviews -- an unprecedented look at the life of the Dead.

This is an outstanding telling of the history of the greatest band America has, and will ever have to offer. Absent having lived what the band lived, this is probably the best access to the story of not just the band but the spirit that changed thousands of lives. I know some Dead fans will be upset this piece of history is missing or that, but this is as true a telling of the band's history as you can get in a format people would watch. The fact people will watch this, the series is very well constructed, is important, as the story of this band is in many ways the story of America itself. The restless spirit and desire for freedom the band brought with them in the beginning was constantly checked by the reality of business and logistic roadblocks. The band found ways to overcome these roadblocks, much like America, but in the end the band became an entity too big to remain free, and the lack of freedom destroyed the very reason they got into this to start with.

Even if you aren't a Deadhead, in fact especially if you aren't, watch this series. No hype, no gloss, just the story of a tightknit group of extremely diverse friends performing for the love of music, and the price they paid for doing so. The gift the band wanted to offer its audience, which Jerry Garcia summed up best, was the freedom bestowed upon him when he read Jack Kerouac when he was young. Through financial struggles, personal struggles, and eventually becoming an entity so big it swallowed itself, the band truly succeeded in providing that gift to many people, and this series will hopefully do the same for future generations.

The soundtrack is outstanding, by the way. I know some people would have loved a 30 minute Dark Star, or a full Cosmic Charlie, but we have our memories and don't need a series to remind us how liberating this band's music was. My hope is that this is a starting point for future fans, and maybe for some people who were intimidated or put off by the scene back in the day. I threw in the towel after the Spring of 1990, I could do without the frat party scene, and had no idea how much the band, and especially Jerry did too. I can't recommend this series enough.

Overall, a very good series. I don't know if a non-Dead Head would enjoy this series but I certainly did! I watched a couple of the episodes on a Kindle with headphones and the background music choices and mix are excellent. I almost gave the series a three though because it didn't cover Altamont or Woodstock. There is some video footage of the Stones hanging out with the Dead before Altamont but there's no discussion about the Dead's role. Woodstock is breezed over as well.

I've never been a "Dead Head," but I've always loved the Dead's albums, and I love Garcia's bluegrass solo albums, like "Old and In the Way." I wish there had been some coverage of the latter in this lengthy documentary, but as it is, this is still a wonderful production from Amazon. I really enjoyed it, and already want to see it again. If you like the Grateful Dead in any way, shape, or form, you will probably enjoy this too.

Pretty well done. Obviously this could have been twice as long and nuanced but this will cater to Heads and society at large as well pretty successfully. I enjoyed learning more details about the Band's coming together, the crew and the machine that was the actual Grateful Dead and the dynamic of their not really being a leader/Jerry was the leader but wouldn't step up as one. Also really gives an interesting detail of how Jerry's creation and concept of what the Dead should be ultimately led him to be trapped and kind of explains more of his drug issues than I really previously understood. I've watched twice so far. More viewings to come.

Like anything from the GD... I'll take it. I miss what i once took for granted, if Jerry was still alive i'd be touring because i never did really - always did a show here and a show there over the course of about 35 years starting in 1982 (glad they coverd the early 80's! there was a sliver of period of classic underground Grateful Dead culture that still existed till about 1985 or so i'd say.

could i critique it, yes... but aah. ..well, ok one thing. it should have covered Vince Welnick toward (appropriately) the end. they're still harshin on him by contriving an omission of his significance to the whole storyline. Vince Was a fully signed-in member of Thee Grateful Dead and nothing will ever erase that. wtf?? really... No mention at all?? wow! then again it's has become a cultural tradition almost to exclude someone within this in-dysfunctional long strange trip

Very interesting some new things I learned about the band and some things I thought should have been included weren't. wish would of been more interviews with the Bob, Phil, Bill & mickey but still it opened up a different perspective of the band. Could of done without all the reference to "drugs Everywhere!" Hell, I knew. You Knew it, everyone knew it. That's what we did listen to music and had fun expanding & experiencing.

Very insightful and meaningful but most importantly Beautifully done document of the most amazing band that Rock n' Roll has to offer !!! Do yourself a favor and watch Long Strange Trip, because its almost the next best thing to actually understanding or getting what the big deal was with this Amazing Band ... for any of the Newbies to the GD experience this is a great place to start,,,theres an old saying,,,,"ain't nothing like a Dead Show".. so now you know !!! Peace and keep the dream alive !!!